Willian eager for Chelsea stay after Sarri talks

The Blues winger has spoken out candidly about his future for the first time, as he addressed rumours about his departure from Stamford Bridge

Willian wants to stay at Chelsea despite speculation linking him with a move away from the club, but admits that the change from manager from Antonio Conte to Maurizio Sarri has kept him happy at the club.

Sarri brought Willian on off the bench in a 2-0 loss to Manchester City in the Community Shield after he returned this week, albeit a few days late, from the World Cup with Brazil. The 29-year-old’s future was in doubt after being in talks over a move to Barcelona which eventually collapsed and the Brazilian has continually been linked with Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United.

Willian had covered up his previous manager Conte with trophy emojis on Instagram after his side celebrated the FA Cup win that got them into the Community Shield match. Conte ultimately departed the club and he was replaced by Sarri, leaving Willian pleased to stick it out with the London side.

“My will is staying at the club, unless they want to sell me,” Willian said after the loss to Man City. “We never know, but I have been always clear about my wish of staying here. My head is here at the Chelsea, but we never know about tomorrow. I hope to remain at the club.

“I have always been clear about enjoying playing for Chelsea, I have never (said) that I wanted to leave the club, but some situations that have happened with the other coach left me upset.

“But now it’s a new cycle. I had a nice conversation with the new coach. I hope this can be a year of victory for us.

“I have no doubts, it is a game style that we like. Not just me, but all the players. So we have everything to improve and keep working. At the beginning it is a little more difficult until we get the new style of play and its changes. But we have it all to start well in the league.”

Willian’s return match came after Brazil made it to the quarter-final of the World Cup, but they were knocked out by Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois’s Belgium, after a 2-1 defeat.